The international consortium which in 2007 won the controversial ‘bulletin-board’ tender held by the Slovak Ministry of Construction and Regional Development (MVRR) has agreed to cancel the resulting contract to provide services associated with the distribution of European Union (EU) funds.
The consortium consisted of the companies Zamedia and Avocat, which are both reportedly reportedly close to Jan Slota, the leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS). The minister responsible for the flawed tender was nominated by the SNS.
Zamedia executive Zuzana Škutáková told the SITA newswire that the contract would be cancelled with effect from April 23, 2009, and that the consortium would not enforce any sanctions against the Construction Ministry.
“We respect the request of MVRR based on the decision of the government passed on April 23, 2009, and we agree with it,” the consortium stated, as quoted by SITA. “All the companies of the consortium came to this conclusion.”
As well as Zamedia and Avocat, the consortium also includes the companies Consulting & Management and European Consultants Organisation.
The government has asked the recently appointed construction minister, Igor Štefanov, to cancel the bulletin-board contract without any financial consequences for Slovakia and to issue a new public procurement tender. Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Štefanov that if he did not cancel the contract, he would face a dismissal from the government. Fico took this stand after having received a letter from the European Commission, which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the tender. SITA
Compiled by Michaela Stanková from press reports
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